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Wow, this was not the book I was expecting. River has definitely taken a huge step in a different direction with this story.

I have reviewed River's last two books, which were fictionalized stories that were warm, heartfelt and thoughtful. I anticipated another of these. I'll be honest in that I had not read any advance information about this book. I'm so happy I didn't.

I started reading and was instantly gripped by the story of a mother consumed by fear because both of her boys were going off to fight in wars. Not even together - one to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. A mother fighting her fear and looking for ways to cope and mentally thrive during this time. Her prayers became fierce. The woman in the story decides to pray for a stranger each day for one full year. Just find someone she feels needs a prayer and do so.

It took me until Chapter 2 to finally realize that this was River herself speaking! This book is true life, not fiction. As River's first story of a stranger she prayed for began - a homeless woman who gave River her last dollar and then prayed for her - I was completely sucked in.

By Chapter 3, when River was in a bathroom stall and came out too late to do anything but pray for the small child she had heard being abused by his parent in the other stall, I was not only teary-eyed, but unable to put the book down. I found myself notating many chapters with the stories that gripped me the most.

I don't want to keep sharing these stories, I think you should read them for yourself. River, with her passionate and enthralling way of writing, has outdone herself with this book. But now I really do want to meet up with her and give her a giant hug.......and perhaps a big glass of wine.

Welcome to the Dew Book Review Section!

Welcome to the Book Review Section at the Dew!

If you are a publishing house or author who has a book Southern in nature, or by a Southern writer, that you would like the Dew to review, please contact me at dewonthekudzu@gmail.com and I will provide you mailing information. (Wink wink, nudge nudge... the Dew has been getting a little lax about the Southern rule recently... just saying.)

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